Poll

Right to Build Proposals Should be Through Existing Planning System, Says POS

Date: 18/7/2014

In response to Nick Boles' call for councils to apply to become "Right to Build vanguards" as part of the government's push to encourage more custom-build housing David Evans, President of POS, said "We are keen that this actually works through the existing planning system rather than something different."

A DCLG prospectus has been issued inviting councils to open and promote a register for prospective custom-builders that would measure effectively the demand for custom-build housing in the local area.

Evans told Planning magazine that authorities could measure custom-build demand when assessding their general housing need and allocate sites through their strategic housing land assessments. "Where we struggle is with authorities having to provide shovel-ready sites," he said, pointing out that most councils no longer have much land available.

Evans also questioned whether many authorities would find the time and resources to apply to become a vanguard.